Less than four months after the conclusion of their P2-billion initiative to clean the Pasig River, San Miguel Corporation's (SMC) comprehensive river rehabilitation efforts have shifted into high gear in Central Luzon. The company, in just over a year, has removed a staggering 2 million MT of silt and waste from a 25-kilometer stretch of river channels in Bulacan, setting a new standard in environmental conservation.
Initially, the cleanup efforts were concentrated around the future New Manila International Airport and upstream rivers in Obando, Bulakan, Bocaue, and Meycauayan City. These areas form part of the same catch basin, which was identified as a critical hotspot for waste and silt.
SMC has also embarked on conducting bathymetric studies at the Pampanga River, following the completion of similar studies in another catch basin in Bulacan. These studies aim to assess the depth of water across the river channels, identifying the shallow areas that restrict water flow and contribute to flooding.
Ramon S. Ang, SMC President and CEO, highlighted the urgency of these efforts, explaining that siltation and pollution have made many rivers narrow, shallow, and less capable of handling large volumes of floodwater.
Last October 2023, SMC launched its expanded river cleanup program by signing a memorandum of agreement with various government bodies and local government units, broadening the scope of their environmental efforts.
Since the completion of the Pasig and Tullahan river cleanups, communities and stakeholders have reported lesser incidents of heavy flooding. Ang noted the project's significant impact on mitigating the effects of environmental degradation.
The successful cleanup of the Tullahan and Pasig Rivers has equipped SMC with significant experience and expertise in executing such large-scale efforts. The company is fully prepared and committed to undertake this expanded cleanup.
To date, SMC has removed a total of 2,017,336 metric tons of silt and waste from the surrounding rivers of the future site of the New Manila International airport, testifying to the company's steadfast commitment to environmental rehabilitation.
Including the total output of its Pasig River cleanup, SMC’s river rehabilitation efforts have removed over 4.5 million tons of wastes from approximately 68 kilometers of river systems, setting a new benchmark in environmental conservation.
SMC is further extending its cleanup operations in Bulacan to include numerous other rivers, reinforcing its commitment to restore the ecological balance of Central Luzon's waterways.
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